Mental health and wellbeing festival aimed at tackling stigma comes to Perth
The free Perth and Kinross Mental Health and Wellbeing Festival takes place at Perth Concert Hall on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 August 2022
A mental health and wellbeing festival is coming to Perth this weekend.
From yoga and wild swimming to support with trauma and suicide, organisers of this weekend’s Perth and Kinross Mental Health and Wellbeing Festival are on a mission to highlight the range of support available within local communities.
The free festival, which will take place at Perth Concert Hall on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 August 2022, follows its online debut last year.
Packed programme
Working alongside various local partners, Perth charity Trauma Healing Together has created a packed programme of talks, activities and workshops aimed at removing the stigma of mental health and encouraging wellbeing.
During the two-day event, visitors can enjoy a fencing taster session, silent disco, gardening workshop, chair yoga or discover the benefits of wild swimming.
There will also be support for parents struggling with their child, suicide awareness workshop, a talk by an army veteran about his journey and hopes for the future, and an insightful presentation on the science of trauma.
Meanwhile, the festival will also showcase a range of beautiful and moving photographs and drawings by local youngsters who were challenged to submit an image encapsulating their own mental health.
Outwith the festival venue, ‘Let’s go Mental!’ will be held at Railway Staff Club, Feus Road on the evening of Saturday 6 August. Organised by Linda’s Ladies, the event's a chance to enjoy music, dancing and comedienne Rachel Jackson.
Tackling the stigma of mental health
Roxanne Kerr launched Trauma Healing Together in 2020 and established the first festival in 2021.
She said: “Regardless of our age and stage in life, or our background, we all have mental health in the same way as physical health. Both will change as life evolves with one in four of us experiencing a mental health problem at some point in our life.
"Compounding that, Covid-19 has made life significantly harder for many. However, the stigma around mental health remains.
“This weekend’s festival aims to break down the barriers, encourage people to see they’re not alone and highlight the support available, including some activities people might not have thought of before.
"Everyone is unique in the support they require and we are exceptionally grateful to our partners who have empowered us to create a really inclusive and accessible programme to inform, engage, and entertain everyone who comes along.”
Perth and Kinross Mental Health and Wellbeing Festival is organised in conjunction with Mindspace, Linda’s Ladies, Workplace Chaplaincy Scotland, Stephen Lyon Organisation, PKAVs, Vitality Me and Plus Perth.
The event will be opened by Kevin Stewart MSP, Scottish Government Minister for Mental Wellbeing and Social Care.
He said: “I continue to be impressed by the innovative ways used by the third sector to support the mental health and wellbeing of their communities and this festival is a great example of such approaches.
"Mental health and wellbeing, as well as tackling the stigma and discrimination associated with both, remain priority areas for the Scottish Government.”
For more information, visit https://www.traumahealingtogether.org/mental-health-festival-2022